Going Head-to-Head

Two of the best FCS running backs in the nation will be on display when Dartmouth plays host to Colgate on Sept. 17 and don't take it from me. The Sports Network writes as much in a column headlined the "Top 10 FCS running backs."

The bulk of the story is about Colgate's Nate Eachus and understandably so after he led the FCS with 1,871 yards rushing last year. He was tops in the country with 12.0 points per game, tied for the national lead with 22 touchdowns and, at 28.8 carries per game, was the busiest back in the land. His goal for this year: 2,000 yards. The graduation of starting quarterback Greg Sullivan won't help, but the return of his entire starting offensive line will.

Eachus is joined on the list of 10 best running backs by two-time Ivy League rushing champion Nick Schwieger. Here's what The Sports Network writes about the Dartmouth standout:

If you're looking for a workhorse, it's Schwieger, who carried the ball at least 25 times in eight of his nine games last season. He has an excellent vision of the field and is a strong and powerful runner who wears down defenses. He shared the Bushnell Cup for Ivy League player of the year after rushing for a league-best 1,133 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also caught 28 passes for 210 yards.

The top 10 backs heading into the season (in alphabetical order) according to The Sports Network:

• Eric Breitenstein, Wofford, Jr., 5-11, 205
• Jamaine Cook, Youngstown State, Jr., 5-9, 195
• Nate Eachus, Colgate, Sr., 5-10, 216
• Tim Flanders, Sam Houston State, So., 5-9, 208
• Jonathan Grimes, William & Mary, Sr., 5-10, 201
• Mike Harris, Murray State, Sr., 5-11, 200
• Mike Mayhew, North Carolina A&T, Sr., 5-10, 205
• D.J. McNorton, North Dakota State, Sr., 5-10, 203
• Andrew Pierce, Delaware, So., 5-11, 200
• Nick Schwieger, Dartmouth, Sr., 5-10, 210
  

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SportsIllustrated.cnn.com has a sobering story about Owen Thomas under the headline: A year after suicide of Penn football player, many questions remain.

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Word is out that work has begun on the new athletic complex at Columbia with the removal of a few trees. The Columbia Spectator writes about the back-and-forth with local pols to get the project this far. The deal-making included providing 3,000 free Columbia football tickets for the fall.

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Not surprisingly given that the home team has 14 Ivy League titles this year, the Daily Princetonian has a graphic showing championships won this year by each conference school. The good news is that Dartmouth is just one behind Harvard. The bad news (in this case at least) is that the Crimson is, um, next to last.

In case you are wondering, the Big Green shared titles in women's tennis (for the first time ever) and women's lacrosse. A year ago the lone Ivy championship was won by baseball.

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And finally ...

Gotta admit, the way this one started had me a little worried. (Think about the embarrassing Yale admissions video from a year ago.) But I had a hunch it would turn out all right ;-) Check out Dartmouth student body president (and active supporter of the football team) Eric Tanner's announcement of next month's Dartmouth commencement speaker.